Limit bridge detector



NO 20, 1951 B. M. WOJCIECHOWSKI 2,576,059

LIMIT BRIDGE DETECTOR Filed Oct. 29, 1947 4 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 4c. Am? /S )9 7 FIG. 4c. BRIDGE 1 9/8 ,6

PHASE DETECTOR REAL Max counoumr 524 l use/Mica. 8 Lmx l9 l7 -o E PHAS I psrscron Z JAMGINARY :COMPONENT -22 4nJusrAaL 2x524 c/ncu/r suewr AND SWITCH ACAMF. 15

FIG. 2

I REAL I COMPONENT l 1 l l PHASE /2 DETECTOR l4 [HAG/[VARY COHPONEN T C IN VE N T OR BM. WOJC/ECHOWSK/ W W. 7M

7 TORNEY Nov. 20, 1951 B. M. WOJCIECHOWSKI 2,576,059

LIMIT BRIDGE DETECTOR Filed Oct. 29, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 IN VE N TOR B. M. WOJC/ECHOWSK/ Patented Nov. 20, 1951 signer to Western Electric Company,

rated, New York, N. Y., a corporation New York . Application mm as, 1047, Serial N... team 7 Claims.

This invention relates to testing systems and more particularly to a system adapted for production testing of a complex circuit element.

Alternating current bridges utilizing phasesensitive or 'phasediscriminating detectors capable of responding independently to the real and imaginary components oi. a complex circuit element (impedance or admittance) have been known for some time. Examples of such bridges are" disclosed in United States Patent 1,475,240, granted November 2'7, 1923 to Osborne, United States Patent 1,496,786, granted June 10, 1924 to Shackelton, United States Patent 1,660,405, granted February 28, 1928 to Mel, and United States Patent 1,919,284, granted July 25, 1939 to Walter.

In production testing a large quantity of similar circuit elements of the same nominal size, it is unimportant to know the exact value of each circuit element. It is, however, important to know whether or not the circuit element tested is within prescribed limits. One of the customary ways of accomplishing this objective has been to balance the measuring bridge at the nominal value of the circuit elements under test and to inscribe maximum and minimum limits on the balance indicator. This customary practice however, has usually been applied to single component circuit elements, for example resistance elements tested on direct current bridges. The problem becomes considerably more complicated when complex circuit elements having more than one component are being tested. Also inherent disadvantages with resulting inaccuracies have prevented any general use of this practice wherever either close or precise have been specified and must be maintained.-

These disadvantages are first, that the deflection depends upon the gain 01 the amplifier used for amplifying the unbalanced output voltage oi. the bridge and upon any variation in the power supply voltage supplied to the bridge. A. second disadvantage is that the setting of limits on the scale of the balance indicator lacks precision even with no variation in power supply voltage or amplifier gain mainly because balance is simultaneously dependent upon both of the complex components. The third and very practical disadvantage is that in view of the first two disadvantages the test procedure requires an excessive amount of attention from the operator.

It is the object of this invention to completely overcome the aforementioned disadvantages by providing an apparatus which reduces the testconnecting the complex circuit element to the bridge circuit, operating a two-position switch I and observing the direction of deflection of two indicators. It is a further object 01' this invention to provide means wherebythis simple testing procedure immediately gives all the necessary information as to the character of the defeet of a circuit element which falls to pass the prescribed requirements.

The foregoing objects are achieved by this invention which provides in combination with an alternating current bridge having input and output terminals, two phase-sensitive detectors each having an input circuit connected to the bridge output terminals, a source 01' alternating current connected to the bridge input terminals and a separate zero-center-reading indicator connected to the output circuit of each phase detector through a reversing switch. A second input circuit for each phase detector, each including a phase control means, is connected to the source of alternating current supplied to the bridge. An adjustable range limit complex circult element is connected in one arm. of the bridge, and a switch connected to said adiustable element changes the magnitude of its components between two predetermined. limits whereby the two indicators can be made to give indications in one direction for all complex circuit elements under test whose components are within prescribed limits and an opposite indication tor any component lying outside the prescribed limits.

The invention may be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, in

. which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic showing the essential elements comprising an embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 discloses an embodiment of this invention as applied to a comparison type admittance bridge and showing a preferred form of phase detector;

ing operation to the simple procedure of merely It Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1

bridge.

3 where is shown a schematic of the combination comprising the necessary elements for the practice of this invention, it will be noted that the bridge I is generally referredto in the art as of the "comparison type and may be used either as an admittance or as an impedance The bridge has four terminals A, B, C and D. the terminals A and C comprising the output terminals and the terminals B and D comprising the input -terminals. Alternating current power is supplied to the input terminals B and D from an. alternating current source 2. The ratio arms of the bridge comprise resistors RI and R2 which are preferably. but obviously not necessarily, made equal. The AD arm of the bridge is used as the standard arm and contains an adjustable standard complex circuitelement Lain the CD arm of the bridge isfound thetestterminalsitowhichmaybe connected the complex circuit element under test. This arm of the bridge may be referred to as the measuring arm whereas the AD arm of the bridge maybe referred to as the standard arm. Terminals I and l are found, respectively, in the measuring and standard arms of the bridge, and are connected to the D terminal of the bridge by means of removable links as shown in Fig. 1. The purpose of these links will be more particularly described later.

Two phase detectors I and 8 are provided for observing the real and imaginary components, respectively. .of the unbalanced output voltage of the bridge. It will be noted that each of these phase detectors has two pairs of input terminals and one pair of output terminals. For example, the phase detector 1 has alternating current input terminals I and I and direct current output terminals l3 whereas phase detector I has alternating current input terminals II and I2 and direct current output terminals It. This general arrangement of input and output terminals for phase detectors is in common with substantially all phase detectors and although most any phase detector may be used in the practice of this invention. a preferred form is disclosed in Fig. 2.

The unbalanced output from the alterna current bridge is preferably amplified by a suitable alternating current amplifier II and applied to terminals 0 and II of the two phase detectors. The other input terminals II and I! of the phase detectors are connected to the alternating current supply source I through suitable phase control networks es. and er. These phase control networks may be of any conventional form. Phase control network as adjusts the phase relation of the two input voltages to phase detector 1 so that the voltage supplied to terminal I0 is substantially in phase with the real component of the bridge output voltage as it appears at terminals I of the phase detector 1. In this way the indicator II is, within certain limits, rendered sensitive only to variations in the real component of the complex circuit element under test and substantially insensitive to any variations of its imaginary component. This property of phase detectors is well known and requires no further description.

The phase control network Q1, connected ,to

terminals I! of phase detector 8. is adjusted in a similar manner so that indicator I1 is similsrly responsive only to'variations in the imaginary component 01' the complex circuit element under test. It, therefore, nee-M 1 4 that the voltages applied to terminals II and II will diil'er by substantially 90 degrees.

The two indicating devices lland I! may be zero-center-reading DArsonval type galvanometers and are connected to their respective phase detectoroutput terminals II and it through reversing switches II and ll.

Block II of Fig. 1 refers to an adjustable complex circuit element and switch arranged to change the magnitudes of the two components of this circuit element. The nature of this circuit element will be described in greater particularity in connection with the remaining figures but for the purpose of the description of Fig. 1 it may be stated that terminals II are connected to either the standard or the messuring bridge arm through conductors 22 and II. As shown in Fig. l, conductor 22 is connected to the D terminal of the bridge whereas conductor 23 is connected to the C terminal of the bridge, thereby connecting terminals ii to the measuring arm. With this connection, it is assumed that the bridge is arranged for measuring admittances and the complex circuit element in block II is thereby arranged for addition to the complex circuit element under test. The switch in block II is arranged to change the magnitude of both components of this adjustable complex circuit element and for convenience this switch is mechanically linked through a linkage 24 to the two reversing switches l8 and II.

It will become evident as the description of this invention proceeds further that the adjustable complex circuit element not only may be connected across the CD arm of the bridge but, in the alternative, it may be connected across the AD arm of the bridge. Also, if the complex circuit element in block II is in the form of a complex impedance and the alternating current bridge is arranged for measuring impedances instead of admittanoes. connection It may be removed from terminal C and connected to terminal 3 and the link interconnecting terminal 3 and the D terminal of the bridge removed. This change in connections is obvious when it is remembered that admittances are added in parallel and impedances are added in series.

It is also evident that instead of,making the connection of conductor 23 to terminal 8. it may be connected to terminal 4 and the link interconnectingterminallandtheDterminalof the bridge removed.

' adjustable complex element in block 2| is, thereafter again connec to the bridge and both components thereof adjusted to equal the max- I imum range of deviation which will be permitted of the complex element to be tested. The twocomponents of the standard are adjusted to read the maximum values of the two components to be measured. Now it is assumed that with the switches I8 and il in the min." position, the

rollows two galvanometers I6 and I! 'are so connected to their phase detectors that they will each give a positive deflection when the two standard components are each less than the corresponding components in arm CD of the bridge including, of course, the adjustable complex circuit element in block II. This completes the adjustments of the'circuit and it is now ready for production testing of a large number of similar complex circult elements. i

The testing operation is performed by simply connecting the complex circuit element to the test terminals I of the bridge, then operating the two reversing switches II and ll, firstto their upper ("minjl position and then to their lower (max.) position, while at the same time operating the switch in block it so that the components thereof added to the bridge arm are larger in the first position than in the second position. Preferably this operation of these threeswitches is accomplished simultaneously by means of the mechanical linkage 14 shown in Fig. l. The use of such a linkage is not only convenient but also precludes mistakes and simplifles the operation of the bridge. If the (18! flection 01' both, galvanometers is positive for each of the two positions of the switches, each of the components of the circuit element under test liewithin the prescribed limits. If in either position of the switches, one or the other indicator shows a negative deflection, the component associated with that indicator is outside of the prescribed limits. One position of the switches corresponds to the maximum limits and the other to. the minimum limits, as will be hereinafter more particularly described. Therefore, the position of the switch itself will indicate whether or not the component is outside the maximum limit or outside the minimum limit.

It will thus be apparent that by the simple connection of the complex admittance to the test terminals of the bridge and the operation of the switches to their maximum and minimum limits respectively, all the information is obtained regarding whichcomponent, if any, is outside of the prescribed limits and whether or not it is outside the maximum or outside the minimum limits. It will also be evident that variations in voltage supply of source 2 or gain of amplifier II has no effect on the determination as to whether or not the components are within their prescribed limits. This is because it is immaterial how much deflection is observed since it is only the direction of the deflection which determines whether or not the components are within the prescribed limits.

Referring now to Fig. 2, where is shown a conventional type of admittance bridge embodying the principles of this invention. In this figure all the circuit components identical with or corresponding with those shown in Fig. 1 bear the same reference numerals. It will be noted that the standard 5 comprises 91 conductance standard Gs in parallel with a capacitance standard Cs and it will be recognized that this constitutes a standard complex admittance. This arrangement is especially useful in measuring capacitiveadmittance and one such admittance to be tested is shown connected to terminals 0 and comprises a capacitance C1: and conductance Gx.

While the phase detectors may be of any conventional form, a preferred form is shown in the block I. This detector will be recognized as of the same type as disclosed in United States Patent 1,449,382, granted March 2'7, 1923 to Carson.-

1928 to AffeL- Briefly, it comprises two pairs of alternating current input terminals l and II connected to the input circuits of a pair of balanced vacuum tubes acting as plate :rectiflers. The differential direct current output is applied \through the direct current output terminals l3 to the direct current meter II. The circuits in block .0 have not been shown but may be identical with those in block 1. As in Fig. 1 it will be noted that the reversing switches ill and II are mechanically coupled through a link to the range limit switch in block II.

While a mode of operation has already been described for Fig. l and also applies to Fig. 2,

another description specific to Big. 2 will help fix the idea clearly in mind.

a To set up the bridge, a preliminary balance should first be made by conventional means. with respect to the circuit specifically shown in Fig. 2, this is accomplished by removing the admittance under test from test terminals 0. The switches are then operated to "max." position, as shown in block 2!. This will disconnect the range limit admittance from across the D and C terminals. The standard admittance I should have both of its components set to zero and the bridge is given its initial balance by adjusting trimmers, not shown in Fig. 2 but conventional with all bridges, until the two galvanometers It and I1 both read zero. A known admittance of the size to be measured is then connected to the test terminalst and the standard components Gs and Cs adjusted to equal its known components, so that both galvanometers will still-read zero. The standard conductance Gs should then be moved slightly to unbalance the real component of admittance. Only galvanometer, should show a deflection when this conductance is increased. If galvanometer I'I produces any deflection, the phase shifting network n should be adjusted until galvanometer l1 reads zero for all changes of the conductance standard. Also the phase control network is: should be adjusted to give maximum deflection of galvanometer it. For the purpose of these adjustments the direction of these deflections is immaterial. The conductance standard Gs is then .retumed to the balance point and the capacitance Cs is changed slightly to unbalance the imaginary component of admittance. In this case the galvanometer I! should be deflected and no deflection should be observed in galvanometer it. Should any deflection be noted on galvanometer i6, the phase control network he should be slightly readjusted to bring it to zero for all values of capacitance Cs.

in block 20. This connects the range limit complex admittance across the CD arm of the bridge. If the two components Gr. and Ci. of this complex admittance are calibrated, they may be directly adjusted without comparison with the bridge standard 5. If not calibrated, they may be independently adjusted by setting the It will then be noted that, within reasonable limits, galva- 7 bridge standard I to the maxlmum'range of deviation oi each component permitted by the, requirements and balancing the bridge by adjusting Gr. and C1,. Assume, for example, that a large number of 100 micromicroiarad condensers are to be tested and that the tolerance limits 'are'given as per cent of the nominalvalue oi the capacitance. This. of course. means that all capacitors between 95 micromicroi'arads and ms micromicrotarads are within the specified limits and are acceptable, while any capacitors with a capacitance less than 95 micromicroiarads or greater than 105 micromicroiarads are outside of tolerance limits. The permissible range of deviation is, of course. 10 micromicroiarads. Therei'ore, the capacitance component or the adjustable complex admittance in block "should;

beadjusteduntilcnisequaltolomicromicrotance tends. Ii this element is not calibrated, then the standard capacitance component Cs should be adjusted to equal 10 micromicroi'arads and Cr. adjusted until the bridge is balanced, that is, until galvanometers it and I! read zero.

The conductance component Gr. of the adjustable complex circuit element in block It is similarly adiusted to equal the permissible deviation range set up for it in the requirements.

The two components of standard I are then adjusted to read the maximum values oi the two admittance components to be measured. Therefore. the capacitance standard Cs is adjusted to read 105 micromicrotarads for the example here used for illustrative purposes.

It must be remembered that the two salvanometers are both connected so that with the switch on the "min." position, they will both give a positive deflection when the two standard components are each less than the corresponding components in the CD arm 01' the bridge. This may be accomplished by any one of a number 01 ways. One convenient method is to connect an admittance to the two test terminals 6 having components known to be within the specified ranges. Both galvanometers should then read with a positive deflection for both switch positions. Another method would be to move the ganged switch to its "max." position and with the bridge balanced for a capacitive admittance connected to the test terminals 6, both galvanometers should give a negative deflection when the two standard components of standard 6 are each reduced to values appreciably smaller than the corresponding balance values. If one of the deflections is positive, the connections to that galvanometer should be reversed to make it negative. This, or course, must be-done only alter the bridge has been given its preliminary balance and the phase control networks on and in have both been correctly adjusted.

The bridge is now ready for testing a large number oi similar admittances which may be successively connected to the bridge terminals I. For each admittance to be tested the switches should be moved flrst to their min." and then to their max. positions. The galvanometers it and II will both give positive deflections for an acceptable admittance. Assume. for example, that the conductance component G; connected to the test terminals 6 is smaller than the minimum specifled limits but the capacitance component is within limits. In this case galvanometerit would give a negative deflection when the switches are on their min." position and both galvanometers would give a positive deflection when the switches are on their "max." position.

The description 2 is speciflc to the application oi the invention to admitttance br dge. Referring now to Fig. 3, 'willbenotedhowthesameapparatusmaybe used to make impedance ts with an impedance bridge. It is, of course, obvious that the invention may be practiced in connection with bridges other than of the comparison type. These particular bridges have been selected ior their simplicity in illustrating the invention. In Fig. 3 the adjustable complex circuit element and switch is shown in block 2|, the adjustable components themselves being an adjustable limit resistorltsandadjustableinductancelm. The intheADarmoithebridgeisalso complex form. The adjustment of this bridge is identical with that for the admitbridgeinFig.2. Theoperationalsois necessary.

It" sometimes happens that the limits specified for a particular admittance'or impedance are set with a very close tolerance and the permissible range of deviation is so small that it becomes lus than the residual admittance or impedance oi the adjustable range limit element itself. This is easily overcome by resort to the circuit arrangementshowninFigs.4,5and6. Theuseoi' thesecircuitsiseasilyunderstoodwhenitisremembered that the primary requirement or the adjustable complex circuit element is to provide a known change in admittance or impedance when the switch is operated.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 4, it will be quite evident that ii the limit capacitance Cr. is adjusted so that the capacitance between terminals ll is the same for each position of the min-max. switch. there will be no change in capacitance presented to the bridge arm. It will also be evident that since this variable capacitor is capable of very flne adjustment. a very small capacitance change can be introduced by simply adjusting the capacitor C1. by a small amount thereby introducing a small change in capacitance between terminals 2i and thereby presentingthissmallchangeincapacitancetothebridge arm. The same is true of the continuously adjustable limit conductance Ga. The connection of this complex limit admittance to the bridge is obvious from a comparison 0! this figure with Fig.2.

production measurements may be made of a large number of air condensers having.

n sl sibly small conductances. In this case a conductance limit is more or less unimportant so that the complex limit admittance may comprise essentially only the capacitance component as shown in Pig. 5. Here the adjustments are made by two separate variable capacitors C1 and C: whereby the capacitance presented for the two positions of the switch may be independently adjusted. Otherwise this circuit arrangement is identical with Fig. 4. It desired, the conductance component may be added to Fig. 5 in the same manner as shown for Fig. 4. The operation of this network is otherwise identical with that described ior Fig. 4.

In the arrangement shown for Fig. 6 the adjustable complex limit element is in the form 01' an impedance and is of particular value in connection with a bridge of the type shown in Fig. 3; In this case the complex components may be adjusted to diirer by a small amount, as is required, in Jimt the same manner as was described for the admittance of Pig. 4. The connection of this giveninconnectionwith Fig.

asvaoso a 9 circuit to the bridge of Fig. 3 is perfectly obvious and no further description is believed necessary.

For illustrative purposes, relatively simple networks have been shown connected to the test terminals 6. For example; in Fig. 2 the admittance was shown as a simple parallel capacitor and conductance and in Fig. 3 the impedance is shown as a simple series-connected resistor and inductor.

It is obvious to those skilled in the art that these networks may actually be much more complicated and in the alternative may comprise elements of a diiierent character. For example, in Fig. 2 the admittance element may comprise an inductor in parallel with a capacitor or a resistor or a combination of all three. Similarly in Fig. 3 the impedance may comprise a resistor or inductor in series with a capacitor or any combination of the three. Also more complicated networks having equivalent admittances and impedances may be measured by this invention. Oitcourse, for each type of admittance or impedance to be measured, the bridge must be of a suitable typeand the standard as well as the adjustable complex circuit element in block 2| must be selected to suit the equivalent admittance or impedance to be tested.

It is evident from the description of this invention that it provides a means for very rapid testing of large quantities of similar complex circuit elements and that the measurement may be made with ease and minimum fatigue on the part 01' the operator. In the use of the bridge no complicated adjustments are required. the operation having been reduced to the simple operation of a two-position switch arrangement.

It should also be noted that if the adjustable complex circuit element in block 20 is connected across the AD arm instead of the CD arm by moving connection 23 from terminal C to A, the same result is achieved by simply adjusting the standard components to the specified minimum respective values rather than to the maximum values. course, it the complex circuit element is in the form of an impedance, the connection 23 may be moved from terminal 3 to terminal 4 in the manner already described and the complex components of the standard impedance are also adjusted to the minimum specified values instead of the maximum values as previously described. The introduction oi additional ampliflers in either of the indicator channels or the removal or amplifier l5 are also to be regarded as obvious and well-known modifications within the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A system adapted for production testing of complex circuit elements comprising in combination, an alternating current bridge having input and output terminals, said bridge also having a standard arm and an arm including test terminals for connecting a complex circuit element to be tested, a source of alternating current connected to the bridge input terminals, two phase-sensitive bridge balance detectors each having at least one pair of output terminals and two pairs of input terminals, two zero-centerreading indicators, one for connection to one pair of detector output terminals and the other for connection to the other pair of detector output terminals, a reversing switch for each indicator connecting it to the output terminals of its phase detector, circuits connecting one pair 0! input terminals of each detector to the bridge output terminals, another circuit including phase adjusting means connecting the two pairs of remaining detector input terminals to said source,

10 said phase adjusting means being so constructed and arranged as to supply a voltage to one pair 01! said terminals substantially in phase withthe real component oi the bridge output voltage and substantially electrical degrees out of phase with respect to that supplied to said other pair of terminals, an adjustable range limit complex circuit element connected in at least one arm of the bridge, and a switch connected to said adjustable element for changing the magnitude 0! its components between two predetermined limits.

2. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said phase detectors each include a rectifying means for delivering a direct current I output from its output terminals.

3. The combination in accordance with claim i wherein said' adjustable range limit complex circuit element is. additionally independently adjustable as to each otits components.

4. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said switch connected to said adjustable 1 5. A system adapted for production testing of complex circuit elements comprising in combination an alternating current bridge having input and output terminals, said bridge also having a standard arm and an arm including test terminals for connecting a complex circuit element to be tested, a source of alternating current connected to said bridge input terminals, two phase-sensitive bridge balance detectors each having at least one pair 01' output terminals and two pairs of input terminals, two indicators each comprising a zero-center-reading direct current meter or the DArsonval type. one for connection to one pair of detector output terminals and the other for connection to the other pair of detector output terminals, a reversing switch for each indicator connecting it to the output terminals oi its phase detector, circuits connecting one pair of input terminals of each detector to the bridge output terminals, another circuit including phaseadjusting means connecting the two pairs of remaining detector input terminals to said source, said phase adjusting means being so constructed and arranged as to supply a voltage to one pair of said terminals substantially in phase with the real component of the bridge output voltage and substantially 90 electrical degrees out of phase with respect to that supplied to said other pair of terminals, an adjustable range limit complex circuit element connected in an arm of the bridge, and a switch connected to said adjustable element for changing the: magnitude of its components between two predetermined limits.

8. A system adapted for production testing of complex circuit elements comprising in combination an alternating current bridge having input and output terminals, said bridge also having a standard arm and an arm including test terminals ior connecting a complex circuit element to be tested, a source of alternating current connected to the bridge input terminals, two phasesensitive bridge balance detectors each having at least one pair 01' output terminals and two pairs 01' input terminals, two zero-center-reading indicators, one for connection to one pair of detector output terminals and the other for connection to the other pair of detector output terminals, a. reversing switch for each indicator connecting it to the output terminals 01' its phase man-amautosuwl avoltuetozepalr otaaldtermlnakauhatanflallyinphale the realcomponent otthebridge output when and lubltanflallymelectrlcaideareecoutorphalmm wlth'reapecttothatmpplledteaaldotberpair oitermlnamanadluctableranzelimitcomplex circuit elementeomprlalnzoneadjmtable element capable of carrying current substantially; inphuewlththevoltamcacrouttandanother 15 adjuatablc element capable of carrying current adjustable element for chanllnz the magnitude at it: cemponenta between two predetermined limit.

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300mm. x. wowmcnowm.

REFERENCES CITED The'lollowln: relerenoes are of record in the me of this patent:

' STA'I'IB PAI'IN'I'B Sunctcin All. 16. no 

